van vianen



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. VAN VIANBN. ELECTRIC TIME SIGNAL.

N0. 499,062. I Pa/tented June 6, 1893.

III 1, E V

9 t e e h S .W e e h S 3 NM M G AI I VB M G W. VAN

ELECTRIC TI -(No Model.)

No. 499,062. Patented June 6, 1893.

3507 1a eys (No Model 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. W. VAN VIANEN.

ELEGTRIG TIME SIGNAL.

aitor'n eyd.

Patented June 6,1893.

Wines-yes. W dam/m6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERHARD \VILHELM VAN VIANEN, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC TIME-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,062, dated June 6,1893.

Application filed August 2,1892- Sen'al llo. 441,981. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LGEEHAEDWILHELM VAN VIANEN, of Cologne, in the Kingdomof Prussia and German Empire, haveinvented anew and useful Improvementin Electric Signals or Alarms, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates toimprovements in or connected with electricalarms, applicable for dwelling and other places such as hotels, andwhen applied in such places for example, permits the visitors, guests,or otherwise, to set the alarms for any time in their own rooms; and theringing of the bell in any particular room then takes place exactly atthe predetermined time and automatically, so that the guest or otherperson or persons is or are not dependent on the punctuality of servantsor the like.

According to my invention the whole apparatus is set in motion by aclock which is provided with a specially constructed contact mechanismas hereinafter described for the purpose, and in each room is placed aplug contact apparatus provided with a bell which serves as an alarm.Conducting wires connect the clock apparatus and alarm apparatus.

My invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure 1 shows in plan or elevation and Fig. 2 in section the clockcontact arrangement or so much of the same as will be necessary todescribe this invention; and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of the plugcontact and alarm mechanism. Fig. 5 shows in elevation and section oneof the plugs detached. Fig. 6 is a diagram View illustrating aninstallment of the apparatus constructed and arranged according to myinvention, wherein conducting wires are shown carried from theapparatus, shown in Figs. 3 and at, to the clock shown in Figs. land 2.The number of these wires is regulated by the intervals at which thealarm is required to be set; for instance as shown in the diagram viewFig. 6, an interval of half an hour is chosen in consequence of whichthere are twice twelve (twenty-four) conductors from the clock, togetherwith a return conductor R, thus making a total of twenty-five wires. Thereturn conductor goes direct to the plug apparatus, Figs. 3 and 4, ofthe separate rooms, and is there connected with the sounder and ends ina metal (brass) ring 1*. To this ring twenty-four plates a areconcentrically attached, see Figs 3 and 4. These plates are insulatedfrom the ring r and have a semicircular opening which corresponds to alike opening in the ring 0, so that thereby a circular space is formed,into which a plug 5 (Fig. 5) can be inserted, thus setting up anelectrical contact between the ring 7' and the plate in question. Tothese twenty-four plates the ends of the whole of the twenty-fourconductors are attached, so that any conductor may be connected with thereturn conductor R as desired.

The clock (Figs. 1 and 2) requires strong works and accurate movement;but the motionwork may be of any desired construction. The contact iseitected by means of two springs ff, screwed onto two clamps 7c 70,which can be adjusted by the screws (1 d. The springs ff slide upon acontact plate 13 which carries a contact arm I), provided with a spring2', upon which a platinum contact 0 is fixed. A circle of metal plates aextends around the contacts; the plates a form the ends of thetwenty-four conductors and are screwed onto an insulated plate whichcarries a circular continuation g. Screws hare screwed through theshoulders of the plates a and pass through borings in the ringcontinuation g and in front they carry platinum contacts.

The plate 1) is rigidly connected with the small indicator of the clock,so that it, and with it the contact arm 1), makes a revolution in twelvehours. The contact arm 1) thereby makes contact, hourly, half-hourly,quarterhourly, be, according to the number of the plates a. Thus,according to the place where the guest may have inserted the plug in theapparatus, the bell in his room will be sounded at a fixed time and analarm will be made.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

In an electric signal and alarm apparatus the combination with a ring g,screws h and the dial plate, of the conducting disk or plate 1) underthe dial and provided with an arm Z) having a contact spring 2' toengage the screw GERIIARD WILIIELM VAN VIANEN. 5 points and the springsff engaging the periphery of the disk 29 with their inner endsWitnesses:

and screws 07, for adj Listing said springs, sub- II. A. MAXWELL,

stantially as set forth. FR. SCHRODER.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

